Jogyesa Temple

Famous for being the only major temple within Seoul, Jogyesa Temple serves as the center of Zen Buddhism in Korea and houses Daeungjeon, the largest Buddhist shrine in Seoul. The temple was established in 1910 but the main shrine wasn’t built until 1938. Many of the trees in the courtyard in front of the main temple have been standing there for more than 500 years.

Each June, Jogyesa Temple hosts Buddha’s birthday celebration, sometimes called the Lotus Lantern Festival, when the whole complex gets adorned with colorful lanterns. The temple is colorful even without the extra decorations, and is well worth a visit any time of year, particularly given its convenient location near many of Seoul’s historic attractions.

If you’re interested in learning more about Buddhism in Korea, stop by the Central Buddhist Museum to see a sizable collection of paintings and artifacts and the Center for Foreign Visitors where English-speaking Buddhist guides will gladly answer your questions.